Calcific uraemic arteriolopathy: an update.
OBJECTIVE
Calcific uraemic arteriolopathy (CUA) or calciphylaxis is a rare but important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. The prevalence of CUA is increasing in patients with renal failure, and the condition is also being recognized in nonuraemic patients.


RESULTS
There has been increasing understanding of the molecular basis of vascular calcification, in particular on the important role of the uraemic microenvironment in the factors implicated in the differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells into osteoblasts. New options for treatment of hyperphosphataemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease have become available in the last few years and these have begun to be used in patients with CUA. These include bisphosphonates, newer noncalcium/nonaluminium-containing phosphate binders and case reports of use of cinacalcet. Other treatments for CUA that are not targeted directly at calcium/phosphate homeostasis include hyperbaric oxygen and the antioxidant cation chelator sodium thiosulphate.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians managing patients with CUA should consider a combination approach of treating deranged calcium/phosphate with newer therapeutic agents and promoting wound healing with other older modalities such as hyperbaric oxygen and sodium thiosulphate infusions. Randomized controlled trials for treatments in CUA are still lacking.
Rogers
Natasha M
NM
Transplantation Immunology Laboratory and Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH) Campus, Woodville, Australia.
Coates
Patrick Toby H
PT
D002115:Calciphylaxis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D013885:Thiosulfates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014511:Uremia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D002614:Chelating Agents; D010710:Phosphates; D013885:Thiosulfates; C017717:sodium thiosulfate; D002118:Calcium